I received an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

Sally Hepworth's *The Family Next Door* is a domestic drama that revolves around the intertwined lives of several families in a suburban neighborhood. Initially, the book is a bit confusing, as there are many characters to keep track of—spouses, children, and their varying relationships. I found myself struggling at first to remember who was married to whom and which kids belonged to which family, as well as the details of the husbands’ professions. However, as the story progresses, it picks up speed, and the plot starts to draw you in. The end of each chapter is cleverly crafted to leave you eager to find out what happens next in the character's life, creating a sense of suspense.

While I wouldn’t exactly call it “gripping,” the story does have a soap opera-like quality—full of drama, secrets, and intrigue, with characters whose actions and motivations slowly come to light. It’s an engaging read for those who enjoy domestic thrillers with lots of twists and turns, though it may not leave a lasting impact.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to read and review this book.

After losing and replacing my broken Kindle and getting a new phone I was unable to download the title again for review as it was no longer available on Netgalley.

I’m really sorry about this and hope that it won’t affect you allowing me to read and review your titles in the future.

Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.
Natalie.

I was not sure what I was expecting to read with The Family Next Door, reading the blurb we have a feel of Wisteria Lane and the ladies from Desperate Housewives but set in Melbourne and I couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, we have 3 ladies cemented in Pleasant Drive but disjointed from each other. Yes, they are friends but they aren’t close. Then a newcomer, she’s not married and she has no children, so why is she there?

I love stories where you follow people and their lives because who doesn’t love a bit of people watching. The chapters are all from a different point of view, Essie who is the main voice, left her firstborn in a park one day because she couldn’t cope, but is there something more to it? Fran, carrying a shocking secret that could destroy everything she holds dear. Ange, perfect wife with a seemingly perfect husband, but is everything…perfect? Isabelle, the newbie, on a mission to find a missing child, will she find it here? And finally some sections by an unknown where we are taken back into time as we have to live the heartbreaking scenes of her having a stillborn baby.

So much is going on, and this would be an amazing TV adaptation for sure! I was never bored, I wanted to know the mysterious voice, I wanted to know what was happening with these 4 ladies, Will there be a satisfying ending? The answer is yes! We learn everything we can about these ladies and we learn that life is not a fairytale. (Well we knew that)

I found I related to women quite a bit especially with Essie and her postnatal depression, I didn’t leave mini-me anywhere but I struggled badly. But with these women, I felt like they could be friends of mine on the street. I like to think that by the end of the books these women are now proper friends.

There was a twist that I did not see coming, and I think I was gasping a lot because I was asked what the hell was wrong! Lol, I couldn’t believe the words in front of me, such a clever little slight of hand. The chapters are snappy to encourage you to read on. I found I was addicted to these women, soaking in the information and their lives I was fascinated with how they were coping. I was worried about them, I was happy for them and I was sad for them. I flew through this book as I didn’t. Want to put it down and I am glad. It is my first foray with Ms Hepworth and I am looking forward to my next one. She is on my radar and I have another one of her books on my kindle.

Pleasant Court is a small Australian suburb where everyone knows each others name and business but don't really know each other. Enter Isabelle, she's single with no kids and frankly sticks out like a sore thumb amongst the middle-class families that live there. She soon catches the attention of Ange, Fran and Essie, three friends with secrets to hide who are barely holding it together. Soon Isabelle presence begins the catalyst for secrets to be revealed and hearts to be broken.

If you like authors such as Liane Moriarty you will love this. Me, well I'm not such a big fan but actually, I really liked this. Despite their many many (I'll say it again MANY) faults, the characters are all likeable and easy to empathise with. But what I especially liked is that the male characters were just as well rounded as the main female cast of characters. Too many times in women's fiction men are relegated to supporting positions only where their only real influence is their bad behaviour. Yes, there is some bad behaviour here but not all from the men's side and never just as a plot device for the women's 'journey'. It made this a refreshingly enjoyable read with some real moments of genuine pathos. This is my first Sally Hepworth novel but certainly will not be my last.

I received this from Netgalley for an unbiased review.

This was a really interesting story which you could actually see unravelling in your mind. A pretty street with families and secrets living in the houses. The affairs and the lies and secrets were all to come out, and you could see the fami,ies with there children working it all out.
I really enjoyed this book, and could not put it down, thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
Am sure families all round the world can see them selves in this book.

I think this a bit of a poor man's Liane Moriarty. It lacks the bite and edge that something like 'Big Little Lies' had, but follows a very similar plot lines. Honestly, this could probably make an amazing TV series because there's so many individual stories happening throughout this whole book. Throw in some affairs, some illegitimate children, strange stories and even stranger people turning up in the intimately tied community. I enjoyed reading this book and it's definitely addictive once you get into the main story, but it brings nothing to the game that hasn't already been done before.

This multiple first-person narrative alternates point-of-view between Essie, Fran, Ange, Isabelle, and Barbara. With each character battling their own problems, there’s never a dull moment and each chapter left me hanging, before moving onto another character.

Fran, Ange, and Isabelle’s perspectives are equally weighted but it is clear that Essie is the protagonist. Barbara is Essie’s mother, so her point-of-view also connects to what is going on with Essie.

Isabelle is new to the area but with Pleasant Court being a neighbourhood for families, the residents are intrigued as to why a single and childless woman would choose to live there. With Ange being the letting agent for Isabelle’s property, suspicion arises when Isabelle’s references don’t check out. But just who is she? And why does Essie lie to her husband about spending time with her?

It’s soon discovered that Isabelle has moved to the area to find somebody, with Essie, Fran, and Ange all being mothers of two children the reader is left guessing as to who it is that Isabelle is looking for. It might not be who you think!

Before reading I’d heard this book had similarities to Little Lies by Leanne Moriarty’ and it certainly does. But it also reminded me of The Friend by Dorothy Koomson; it also reminded me of the Sudden Departure of the Frasers by Louise Candlish.

Isabelle Heatherington doesn't fit into this picture of family paradise. Husbandless and childless, she soon captures the attention of three Pleasant Court mothers.

But Ange, Fran and Essie have their own secrets to hide. Like the reason behind Ange's compulsion to control every aspect of her life. Or why Fran won't let her sweet, gentle husband near her new baby. Or why, three years ago, Essie took her daughter to the park and returned home without her.

As their obsession with their new neighbour grows, the secrets of these three women begin to spread - and they're about to find out that when you look at something too closely, you'll see things you never wanted to see.

This is a great book for fans of Liane Moriarty, interesting characters and an intriguing storyline tory that makes you want to just keep reading.

Pleasant Court is a nice neighbourhood, full of respectable families. People don’t talk about their problems. So when Isabelle Heatherington, single and attractive, moves in, she ruffles more than a few feathers. The secrets people have tried so hard to bury start coming out, as Isabelle seems to know rather a lot about her new neighbours. An enjoyable domestic drama, with a few twists and turns to keep you sitting by the pool until the sun goes down.

Thank you to Net Galley and Hodder & Stoughton for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
This domestic drama was packed with the goings on of several families in a small close of houses. The main storyline was unusual with a good unexpected twist.
I kept falling asleep whilst reading this book, so consequently it took me longer to read than I anticipated. There were quite a few characters to get to grips with, and on several occasions I felt a little confused with what was happening and had to re-read some parts. I'm not sure if this was because I was really tired, or the story was a bit slow paced. I didn't really find the story gripping or unputdownable, but it was an enjoyable read.

3 - 3.5

Welcome to Pleasant Court in Melbourne, a pleasant place...on the surface. Just like Wisteria Lane, which you'll find yourself comparing it to, this little neighbourhood is full of dirty secrets. Lies, affairs, postpartum depression, a missing child and even an illegitimate one, this corner of the world isn't short of scandal and will leave you asking yourself how well do you really know your neighbours.

The Family Next Door is primarily set around the lives of three women and their families. three years before the book opens, Essie left her baby in a public park. Since then she has received outpatient care at a psychiatric facility and gone on to have her second child. Closely watched by her husband, Ben, and her mother, Barbara, who lives next door, Essie is still finding her feet with motherhood. Fran is also mother of two young children, running miles every day to distract from the life-changing secret she is keeping from her husband. And Ange is a control freak with two young sons who is met with shocking revelations about her handsome photographer husband, Lucas. Introduce a single, threateningly attracting and independent new face in the form of Isabelle Heatherington into the mix, and you've got yourself a soap opera.

The drama in this page-turner unfolds quickly, and the pace is well set. It's a fun 'popcorn read', perfect if you're looking for an escape from the aftermath of heavier novels. I quite liked the story and found the characters engaging, and the constant switch between characters chapter to chapter kept me on my toes. What I didn't like about this novel, however, was how well things were sown up for our characters in the end. Unfortunately, life doesn't always work out this clean.

An enjoyable read that will please many. Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read The Family Next Door in exchange for an honest review.

I found this to be a comforting and interesting book with characters I ( mostly) liked and a non threatening storyline that I enjoyed,I kinda felt I had read parts of it before but that didnt matter,enjoyable

A fast, easy read for me. Thoroughly enjoyable - not too light but still suitable for a holiday read. As has been said by many reviewers, this was similar in feel to Big Little Lies (Liane Moriarty) and Desperate Housewives. You knew early on that all was not as it seemed in the perfect neighbourhood of Pleasant Court in Melbourne but the twist was unexpected and rather clever.

My first Sally Hepworth novel and I would definitely read more by her.

Fans of Lianne Moriarty - grab a comfy chair!

This is a really cosy page turner, very familiar feeling, with believable characters and plot lines. The stories aren’t particularly original, and it’s all a bit predictable; but it’s still a great read.

Pleasant Court is a nice suburb of Melbourne. The people know each other, take care of plants & mail if someone is away. It looks quite cosy and middle class. There are three couples each with two children. Essie's mum Barbara lives next door and is an willing babysitter. Into this little community comes Isabelle -single, no children. Everyone is curious to know why she has chosen this place to settle.

Each household has its own dramas and secrets. The book explores how much we really know about those who are close to us.

I found this a well written easy read with an ending I certainly didn't see coming!

Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

The story centres on three families living in Pleasant Court. Essie is suffering post natal depression after the birth of her second child but is fortunate in that her mother lives close by and helps out with the children. She is friendly with two other mothers Ange and Fran who have their own problems to deal with. Then Isabelle comes to live in the same street. She is single herself but happy to be involved in babysitting for the other families particularly Essie. It transpires that Isabelle is searching for a missing child and the big surprise is who this missing child turns out to be. I enjoyed this book immensely and it kept me guessing till the end.

This novel encapsulates everything that we think we know when we casually use the term that we never know what goes on behind closed doors. And if you have ever glanced at your neighbours and wondered what their lives are really like then you will love this book which explores this very concept and delves into the lives of five women who all live in Pleasant Court in Melbourne, Australia.

It also explores whether our assumptions of other peoples lives can be right or wrong and the author does this by allowing the reader into the homes and minds of the characters. I liked each of the characters in this book as individuals and I was fascinated to see how their lives would pan out throughout the story. Told from each of their individual perspectives, they were well rounded characters which made their individual situations believable and easy to engage with.

There were also some surprises in the plot of this book which lent this book some gravitas. This book has been labelled by the publishers as 'women's fiction' but I would hesitate to place this book within that specific genre as I think this book would appeal to many men too.

This is the first book I have read by Sally Hepworth and certainly think I will be reading more of her fiction.

I was really looking forward to starting this book after reading many great books but sadly I couldn't be captured by it in the way I was hoping, don't get me wrong i think if I wasn't distracted with my daily tasks I would have been more engrossed in this book, I think I started it at the wrong time.

Ange, Fran and Essie all live in Pleasant Court in Melbourne, a lovely area, great for families and close to the beach. So when Isabella moves in she is regarded with a bit of suspicion, she is childless and with questionable sexuality she does nor really fit in with the neighbourhood...... and how does she seem to know such much about everyone when no-one knows anything about her? Will she be the catalyst that breaks open all the secrets that they have been keeping!

A great book that is definitely compulsive reading, really good characters and plenty of secrets and intigue to keep your interest and keep you guessing

Very much in the vein of big little lies, a street full of secrets and lies. Three families each harbouring secrets and deception- when they are brought out into the open will it make them stronger? I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it’s very much of the moment and I thought it would make a fantastic drama on tv or film.